The assets of Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson – one of Iceland’s original and most successful venture capitalists – have been frozen by request of the state tax office.
Everyone who was on the board of directors of investment company FL Group from 2006 to 2008 are suspected of having broken numerous tax laws. As a result, the assets of Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, Hannes Smárason, Jón Sigurðsson and Skarphéðin Berg have all been frozen by the state tax office.
The assets frozen of Jón Ásgeir’s that have been frozen by the tax office include cash, cars and real estate totalling 151.6 million ISK.
Jón Ásgeir told reporters that the tax office was right to freeze his assets, as there is a great deal of confusion about who matters related to FL Group, but emphasized that he has committed no wrongdoing.
FL Group was a private investment firm that was chaired by Jón Ásgeir. He stepped down in 2008 after being convicted of breaking accounting laws. His wife, Ingibjörg Stefanía Palmadóttir, was elected in his place. The company then changed its name to Stodir, as it is known today.
(Photo credit: Chris Casaburi)